Seattle Donation Resources for Clearing Clutter

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Checklist, Clutter, General Organizing, Resources, Seattle / by Innovatively Organized

June 11, 2012

One of the best ways to get organized—whether it be your home, office, or car—is to remove clutter. Identifying items that you no longer use or need helps clear up space, allowing you create a more organized and functional area. Rather than trash your old clothes, furniture, or appliances, why not donate them to a good cause? There are so many resources around the Seattle area for donating and recycling old goods. We’ve compiled a list of donation resources by item category, like clothing, electronics, and furniture, to save you time in the de-cluttering process. Get organized now with our Seattle Donation Resources checklist!

Elizabeth Bowman Will Be at the NDOA Conference!

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Events, Innovatively Organized, Seattle / by Innovatively Organized

June 4, 2012

The 2012 NDOA Spring Conference is this Friday, June 8, at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue! The Northwest Development Officers Association is a professional organization of development officers, fundraisers, consultants, and non-profits, comprising the largest network of fundraising professionals in the Northwest. This year’s theme is Shared Values of Compassion and Community Engagement, with speaker presentations focusing on how to inspire community investment in shared problems and needs. The conference offers several workshops sessions, including our very own Elizabeth Bowman, who will be speaking on how to empower yourself. Her workshop, “Work Smart, Get Organized!,” will take place 1:45-3:00 pm and discuss productivity tips that enable success.

It’s not too late to register for this great networking event! See you on Friday!

See You at the 2012 Chamber of Seattle Tradeshow!

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Ask the Organizers, Events, Fun, Innovatively Organized, Seattle / by Innovatively Organized

May 9, 2012

For all of our Seattleites, we are excited to attend the annual Chamber of Seattle Tradeshow on May 16th, from 3 to 7 pm, at CenturyLink Field & Event Center! The Tradeshow is the largest B2B expo in the region, and with 160 exhibitors and more than 1,500 attendees, it is a great networking opportunity!

Our business organizing services help individuals and teams improve time and meeting management, office organizing, paper and filing systems, and process improvement. We will be attending the Tradeshow to answer any questions you have about organizing your space and time – both professionally and personally. Please stop by our booth, meet our team, and say hello!

See you May 16th!

Before and After of the Week: Making an “Inviting” Workspace

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Before and After of the Week, Business Organizing, Innovatively Organized, Office Organizing, Paper Management, Seattle / by Innovatively Organized

May 7, 2012

Service: Home Office Organizing

Challenge:
Our client did not feel like she had enough space at her desk, so she dreaded working from her home office. The space was not conducive for working and she needed something tailored to her style and personality.

Solution:
With a splash of color on the walls and new shelving units to put clutter out of sight, we were able transform her desk into a tidy surface.

Result:
With a much more inviting space, our client now loves working from her home office!

View more Before and After photos on our Facebook Fan Page!

Business Spotlight: Advanced Approach

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Business Organizing, Resources, Seattle, Time Management and Productivity / by Innovatively Organized

May 3, 2012

Does your team or organization need a little guidance? Advanced Approach, located in Seattle, helps develop personal and business growth strategies for people striving for success. Through coaching, consultations, and facilitation, Advanced Approach helps individuals or groups of people that are “ready to excel.” They help teach tools to enhance growth, leadership, and management skills – among others – and serve as a sounding board for ideas and thoughts.

Michele Corey is a coach with Advanced Approach that “helps people take responsibility for achieving their full potential.” She works with professional women to build their courage, so that they can confidently learn to so “no” when necessary, and have more of what they want in their personal and professional lives.

Contact Advanced Approach to see how they can help you or your team!

Organizing a Busy Family Using the Cloud: Case Study

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Before and After of the Week, Cloud Computing, Electronic Organizing, Families and Kids, Innovatively Organized, Mobile and On-the-Go, Residential Organizing, Seattle / by Innovatively Organized

April 15, 2012

As professional organizers in Seattle, we recently worked with a family of five: three kids, one busy entrepreneur dad, and a working mom constantly on-the-go. The family had smart phones but didn’t have their schedules synced or easily accessible, making it difficult to stay organized.

Solution:
We suggested the Seattle family use a cloud computing service and set up a shared calendar so they could collaborate, easily keeping informed about events or appointments for other family members. This gave them the ability to stay on the same page and know how to best coordinate their time commitments and obligations.

Result:
The busy entrepreneur dad now knows when each of the children’s activities are happening, the on-the-go working mom knows when her husband is running errands or picking up the kids as she returns home each night from work, and everyone knows the Seattle family’s weekend plans. The busy family now has a cloud-based tool to keep them connected and aware of their various commitments, time constraints, and upcoming events!

Think your family could benefit from professional organizers or productivity consultants? Learn more about our services and ask how our team could help!

Innovatively Organized Helps You Get Your Photos Organized!

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Innovatively Organized, Media, Residential Organizing, Seattle / by Innovatively Organized

April 5, 2012

Do you have boxes of photographs that you’ve been meaning to sort? Are your digital photos scattered amongst multiple devices? Do you have a photo project in mind, but don’t know where to start?

Our Photo Organizing services at Innovatively Organized implement tools and systems that allow you to easily find photos when you want or need them. Your photographs are precious memories – knowing where they are and that they’re preserved will give you peace of mind and allow you to share your images with family and friends.

Get started by joining our Photo Organizing Webinar on April 24!

Case Study: Virtual Business and Mobile Workforce

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Before and After of the Week, Business Organizing, Innovatively Organized, Mobile and On-the-Go, Office Organizing, Seattle, Time Management and Productivity / by Innovatively Organized

April 2, 2012

Challenge:
A small business owner with a growing business wanted to implement systems that would allow his newly hired employee to work virtually and be part of the mobile workforce that is so popular today.

Solution:
Since the employee would be working virtually, he would need a way to access his business documents and electronic files. The Innovatively Organized team set up Dropbox to keep his files synced and accessible from multiple devices, while also allowing for collaboration and sharing. Our team of productivity consultants also implemented a virtual phone system, which gave the new employee the flexibility to work remotely while still being connected and within contact.

Result:
Our client’s new employee can now work virtually, successfully be part of the new mobile workforce, and remain connected to the business. The cost of the implemented systems was minimal but added to the company’s productivity immensely. The new employee can access electronic documents right away, as well as be contacted via the business phone line.

If you would like to have a Productivity Consultant from Innovatively Organized help your small business gain efficiency, please contact us and we’re happy to help!

Before and After of the Week: Paper Management Success

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Before and After of the Week, Files and Labels, Innovatively Organized, Mail and Bills, Office Organizing, Paper Management, Seattle / by Innovatively Organized

March 26, 2012

Service: Business Organizing

Challenge:
Too much paper! We started with an inherited office that contained a number of old files, which left little space for the introduction of new items. By continuing to add to the amount of paper in the office, instead of removing old files from the space, the result was numerous piles of paper throughout the small office space, covering just about every available surface.

Solution:
We sorted through the paper, archived old files, cleared the vertical and horizontal surfaces, and created a new filing system.

Result:
Our client can now work in a streamlined filing system and an un-cluttered office space. Both the walls and desktop spaces were cleared and now provide a sense of order in the office. Files are now easily located and retrieved in mere seconds, and each piece of paper has a specific place to be returned when not in use.

View more Before and After photos on our Facebook Fan Page!

Before and After of the Week

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Before and After of the Week, Business Organizing, Innovatively Organized, Office Organizing, Paper Management, Seattle / by Innovatively Organized

March 19, 2012

Service: Business Organizing; Paper Management

Challenge:
Our client has been defining a new Human Resources function at her work and lacked extra time in her day to create a paper, task, and information flow. She was feeling overwhelmed with the accumulation of paper around her office.

Solution:
We worked with her to implement a paper inflow process, create paper files, and improve paper filing. First, we sorted all of the various papers in her office and created broad categories. We then used these categories to create a new filing system, and rearranged her file drawers to be more accessible. Next we reviewed all of the open projects and tasks, and created a file system prioritizing all of her open projects. We also discussed time management techniques and added blocks of time to her calendar to spend on routine tasks, making it easier to manage her day.

Result:
Our client now has a clear idea of how to sort information as it comes into her office and a designated area to delegate tasks to her part-time assistant. She can find the paper she needs quickly, and has a system in place to keep track of her various projects, as well as processing of everyday tasks. Most importantly, her desk is clear so that she can use the surface to work on projects throughout the day!

View more Before and After photos on our Facebook Fan Page!